Patent
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Utility Patent Application
Publication Type: Non-Provisional Application
Filing Date: [To be assigned]
Application Number: [To be assigned by USPTO]
Title
HYBRID QUANTUM VACUUM ENERGY EXTRACTION AND ANTIMATTER CONFINEMENT PROPULSION SYSTEM WITH EMBEDDED QUANTUM ERROR CORRECTION CONTROL
Applicant
| Legal Entity | Address | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Noah's Ark Quantum Tech Lab, SAS | 142 Avenue René Cassin, 75016 Paris, FRANCE | French |
Inventors
| Name | Residence | Citizenship | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noah Kouadri Khazar | Paris, France | French | System architecture, Casimir physics, antimatter confinement |
| Adam Kouadri | Paris, France | French | AI optimization, quantum control algorithms, embedded systems |
| Sarah Kouadri | Paris, France | French | Ecological design, materials selection, thermal management |
Priority Claim
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/XXX,XXX, filed [DATE], entitled "Hybrid ZPE-Antimatter Propulsion System with QEC Control," and under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to French Patent Application No. FR 2026/XXXXX, filed [DATE]. The entire contents of each of the foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
[0002] Not applicable.
Statement Regarding Federally Sponsored Research
[0003] Not applicable.
Background of the Invention
Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates generally to advanced spacecraft propulsion systems, and more particularly to a hybrid propulsion architecture combining quantum vacuum energy extraction, antimatter confinement and annihilation, and quantum error correction (QEC) based real-time control for high-specific-impulse, high-thrust-density space propulsion and terrestrial energy generation applications.
Description of Related Art
[0005] Conventional spacecraft propulsion relies on chemical combustion of propellants (hydrazine, liquid oxygen/kerosene, liquid hydrogen/oxygen) or electric propulsion (ion engines, Hall-effect thrusters, magnetoplasmadynamic thrusters). These systems are fundamentally limited by the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation, requiring exponential propellant mass for high delta-V missions. Specific impulses (Isp) range from 300-450 seconds for chemical systems to 1,500-3,000 seconds for electric systems, with thrust-to-weight ratios generally below 10⁻³ for electric propulsion.
[0006] Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) and nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) offer improved performance (Isp ~ 900-2,000 s) but face severe political, safety, and proliferation concerns. Project Prometheus (NASA, 2003-2005) and subsequent NTP programs have not achieved flight demonstration due to these constraints.
[0007] Antimatter propulsion has been theorized since the 1950s. The annihilation of protons and antiprotons (p + p̄) or electrons and positrons (e⁻ + e⁺) converts 100% of rest mass to energy (E = mc²), yielding specific energies of 9×10¹³ J/g for proton-antiproton and 1.8×10¹⁴ J/g for electron-positron. However, practical implementation faces three fundamental challenges: (a) Production: Current antiproton production at CERN yields ~10⁷ p̄/year at costs exceeding $60 trillion/gram; (b) Confinement: Charged antimatter must be stored in Penning traps or magnetic bottles with lifetimes limited by vacuum quality and magnetic field stability; (c) Thrust conversion: Efficient conversion of annihilation products to directed thrust requires complex magnetic nozzles or ablative shields.
[0008] Positron Dynamics (U.S., founded ~2015) proposed positron annihilation propulsion using sodium-22 (²²Na) radioisotope sources, achieving NASA NIAC Phase I/II funding. However, this approach is limited to positron-electron annihilation (no antiprotons), lacks energy extraction from the quantum vacuum, and does not incorporate quantum computing-based control.
[0009] Zero-point energy (ZPE) extraction via the Casimir effect has been theoretically studied and experimentally demonstrated at nanometer scales. The dynamical Casimir effect (DCE) in non-stationary systems and analog Hawking radiation in Bose-Einstein condensates suggest energy extraction from quantum vacuum fluctuations is physically possible under specific conditions. Recent metamaterial-enhanced Casimir systems and analogue dynamic Schwinger effect demonstrations have advanced the field.
[0010] Quantum error correction (QEC) using surface codes, qLDPC codes, and implementations on superconducting qubits, trapped ions, and nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond have achieved logical error rates below 10⁻³ per cycle. Real-time quantum control using machine learning enables adaptive stabilization of quantum systems.
[0011] No prior art combines: (i) quantum vacuum energy extraction via metamaterial-enhanced dynamical Casimir effect; (ii) antimatter confinement in integrated Penning micro-traps; (iii) hybrid energy transduction via magnon-photon coupling and Josephson junction arrays; and (iv) real-time quantum error correction control using embedded neural networks for autonomous optimization of all subsystems.
Brief Summary of the Invention
[0012] The present invention provides a hybrid propulsion system and method that overcomes the limitations of prior art by synergistically combining four technological pillars:
[0013] First, a metamaterial-enhanced dynamical Casimir effect resonator (DCR) extracts energy from quantum vacuum fluctuations through controlled modulation of boundary conditions at THz frequencies, using piezoelectric actuation of nanostructured plasmonic surfaces.
[0014] Second, an integrated Penning micro-trap array confines antiprotons and/or positrons using superimposed static magnetic and electric fields on a semiconductor chip, with autonomous refueling from radioisotope sources or external accelerator interfaces.
[0015] Third, a hybrid transduction chain converts extracted ZPE and controlled antimatter annihilation energy into usable electromagnetic radiation and directed thrust via: (a) yttrium iron garnet (YIG) sphere magnon-photon coupling in microwave cavities; (b) superconducting Josephson junction arrays for AC-DC conversion; and (c) quantum Stirling engines for thermal-to-mechanical energy conversion.
[0016] Fourth, an embedded quantum error correction controller using NV-center diamond qubits and neural network-based decoding maintains coherence of all quantum subsystems while optimizing energy extraction and thrust vectoring in real time.
[0017] The invention achieves theoretical specific impulses exceeding 10⁶ seconds with thrust-to-power ratios of 10-100 N/MW, enabling rapid transit to Mars (≤45 days), outer planet missions (≤2 years to Saturn), and ultimately interstellar precursor missions.
FIG. 1 — Schematic perspective view of the complete Noah ArkCore hybrid propulsion system 10 installed in a spacecraft hull 12, showing the spatial arrangement of all seven principal subsystems with thermal stratification indicated by color gradient.
FIG. 2 — Block diagram of the system architecture, showing energy flows (solid red arrows) and information/control flows (dashed blue arrows) between all modules.
²²Na / CERN → IPMTA 30
Penning Traps → HTC 50
Transduction → THRUST
Casimir Cavity → HTC 50
(continued)
NV-Center QEC ◄──► EAIOE 80
Neural Network
10 mK ─ 300 K ▼ Heat Rejection to Space
TABLE 1: Principal Subsystems
| Ref. Num. | Subsystem Name | Function | Operating Temperature | Mass (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Antimatter Source Module (ASM) | Production/storage of antiprotons/positrons | 4 K – 300 K | 35 |
| 30 | Integrated Penning Micro-Trap Array (IPMTA) | Confinement and manipulation of charged antimatter | 10 mK – 4 K | 12 |
| 40 | Metamaterial Dynamical Casimir Resonator (MDCR) | Extraction of energy from quantum vacuum fluctuations | 10 mK – 1 K | 8 |
| 50 | Hybrid Transduction Chain (HTC) | Conversion of quantum/exotic energy to directed thrust | 10 mK – 300 K | 15 |
| 60 | Quantum Error Correction Controller (QECC) | Real-time stabilization and optimization | 10 mK – 4 K | 5 |
| 70 | Multi-Stage Cryogenic System (MSCS) | Thermal management and heat rejection | 4 K – 300 K | 120 |
| 80 | Embedded AI Optimization Engine (EAIOE) | Neural network-based autonomous control | 4 K – 300 K | 3 |
| TOTAL SYSTEM MASS | ~200 kg | |||
FIG. 3 — Cross-sectional view of the metamaterial dynamical Casimir effect resonator (MDCR) 40, showing the layered structure and piezoelectric actuation mechanism.
Modulation: d(t) = d₀ + δd sin(Ωt), where d₀ = 100 nm, δd/d₀ ≈ 0.1, Ω ≈ 2ωcav
FIG. 4 — Top plan view of the integrated Penning micro-trap array (IPMTA) 30 chip, showing the 64-site (8×8) configuration with CMOS multiplexing circuitry.
Substrate 32: Si, 10 mm × 10 mm × 0.5 mm | Pitch: 1.2 mm | Trap sites 34: 64
FIG. 5 — Cross-sectional view of a single Penning trap site 34, showing the magnetic and electric field configuration.
TABLE 3: IPMTA Operating Parameters
| Parameter | Value | Unit | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnetic field B | 1.0 – 3.0 | T | Cyclotron frequency 27.9 – 83.8 GHz |
| Ring voltage V₀ | 1.0 – 10.0 | V | Axial frequency 10 – 100 MHz |
| Trap depth | 1.0 – 10.0 | eV | Confines 10⁵ K particles |
| Vacuum pressure | < 10⁻¹⁰ | mbar | 1000+ s positron lifetime |
| Individual site control | 64 | sites | Parallel operations, redundancy |
| Loading efficiency | > 10 | % | From moderated beam |
FIG. 6 — Schematic diagram of the hybrid transduction chain (HTC) 50, showing YIG-magnon coupling, Josephson junction array, and quantum Stirling engine stages.
CarnotTABLE 6: HTC Performance Parameters
| Stage | Input | Output | Efficiency | Key Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50A | ZPE photons, GHz | Coherent magnons | 50 – 80% | YIG (Y₃Fe₅O₁₂) |
| 50B | Magnon microwave field | DC voltage | > 90% | Al/AlOₓ/Al |
| 50C | DC electrical power | Mechanical work | 40 – 60% | ErNi, Gd |
| 50D | Particle/photon momentum | Directed thrust | 30 – 50% | NbTi, W-Cu |
FIG. 7 — Block diagram of the quantum error correction controller (QECC) 60, showing NV-center qubit array, surface code layout, and neural network decoder.